I-TEAM: District Attorney wants judge recused in Madison Brooks case

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - District Attorney Hillar Moore said his office is strongly considering filing a motion for recusal under seal to have Judge Gail Horne Ray removed from the Madison Brooks’ case.

It comes after an impromptu court hearing on Thursday, where Casen Carver waived his right to a jury trial, allowing Judge Ray to be the sole arbiter of his fate.

Brooks was killed after she was hit by a car on Burbank Drive in January 2023. Documents show she was extremely intoxicated. Three people were charged with rape following her death.

RELATED: Deputies arrest 4 in LSU student Madison Brooks case

Earlier this year, the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Madison Brooks’ sexual history was not admissible during the trial.

Because of that court’s ruling that certain evidence should not be brought up at trial, Moore said his office is strongly considering filing a motion tomorrow under seal to have Judge Ray taken off the case.

Moore said Judge Ray made rulings about certain pieces of evidence in this case that the First Circuit said could not be brought up.

“It’s hard to unring that bell,” Moore told the WAFB I-TEAM.

Carver’s lawyer told the I-TEAM they believe Judge Ray will be fair and impartial.

“Obviously, they haven’t been happy with some of the rulings that Judge Ray made and would prefer to have a jury because they can pound emotion and everything that is not relevant,” Carver’s lawyer Joe Long said. “But a judge is going to look at the facts, law, and rule accordingly. The strongest thing that the DA’s office has is the uproar in this community that this young girl lost her life. But we didn’t have anything to do with her losing her life. My client is innocent. He didn’t commit a rape or assist in a rape.”

Carver’s trial is set for December 1.

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